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shelf_life_with_jay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
At its core, Those Across the River reads like a debut novel. And when I found out this was Buehlman’s debut, that made sense. It’s tense, dark, and builds up a slow burn of dread in this small Southern town. The suspense was gripping at points, but the action took a while to kick off. We knew something deeply sinister was going on from the beginning, but the pacing stretched that out longer than I would have liked.
One issue I had with the structure was the opening scene. It drops you into a moment from later in the book but then pulls you away for a long backstory. I’m not a fan of that device—it felt like a bit of a bait-and-switch. I prefer a slow, steady climb rather than this narrative whiplash.
Another element that didn't sit well with me was the frequent use of the word "Negro" and, even worse, the N-word with a hard "er." I understand the importance of historical accuracy, but maybe we could have toned that down a bit. I’m looking at you, editors. A sensitivity reader could have been invaluable here, though I’m not sure if that was even a consideration at the time.
Buehlman’s portrayal of women also felt clunky. Like many male authors, he struggled to avoid oversexualizing them. The number of times Eudora, the main female character, was described as "Sphinx-like" was a bit much. It seemed like a fallback for capturing her mystery, but it became repetitive and felt like a lack of nuance in writing women.
The people in this small Georgia town probably should’ve kept their heads down and stuck with tradition, no matter how tough things were. They got a firsthand lesson in the age-old saying: “Fuck around and find out.” By the time the truth of the town's dark secrets comes to light, you can't help but feel they should’ve left well enough alone.
While Those Across the River had flaws, it was a solid debut from Buehlman. The atmosphere was rich, and the tension was palpable, but a few narrative and character choices held it back from greatness for me. This might be worth a try if you’re looking for Southern Gothic horror with a slow burn. Just be ready to wade through some problematic waters.
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Slavery and Torture
Minor: Infertility and War
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Murder
orizenda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
whatathymeitwas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, and Death of parent